Electrical connectors



April 27, 1965 FlELDER 3,181,106

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS I Filed April 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I v v lnve nlor BRIAN kixf/QDER April 27, 1965 B.- K. FIELDER 3,131,106

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed April 26, 1963 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorBRIAN K FIELDE'R y fiV KA l orney April 27,1965 BKHELDER f 3 106ELECTRICAL CON April 27, 1965 B. K. FIELDER ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 26, 1963 United States Patent 3,181,106ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Brian Kingsley Fielder, London, England, assignorto International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorportion of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 275,813 Claimspriority, application Great Britain, May 11, 1862, 18,199/ 62 '12Claims. (Cl. 339-95) The present invention relates to wire connectors,and more particularly connectors of the kind in which an electricalconnection is made between two or more conductors by the application ofmechanical pressure.

According to the invention there is provided a wire connector comprisinga pair of end plates, at least one further plate intermediate said endplates, and a cliptype spring having inwardly extending lips adapted toengage in recesses in the outer faces of said end plates for maintainingpressure between said end plates, wherein two adjacent plates areadapted to have wires placed therebetween, wherein one of said twoadjacent plates is made of electrically conductive material and isprovided with ridges in the face adjacent to the other one of said twoplates, and wherein said ridges are adapted to penetrate the surfaces ofany wires placed between said two plates when said spring is in theoperative condition.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the connector dismantled.

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment assembled connecting four wirestogether.

FIG. 3 shows a connector spring in the release position.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the connector dismantled.

FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment of the connector assembled connectingsix Wires together.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the connector dismantled.

Referring to FIG. 1, a connector, for electrically connecting together amaximum of four wires, is shown. A T-shaped centre plate 1, made ofconducting material, has a horizontal flange 2 forming the base, and avertical web 3. Side faces of the web 3 have sharp V-shaped verticalridges 4 formed on them extending the height of the web 3, and the topof the web 3 is bevelled on both sides.

Rectangular side plates 5, which may be made of conducting or insulatingmaterial, are shown, one on each side of the centre plate 1. Each sideplate 5 has one centrally-disposed horizontal channel 6, of rectangularcross-section, extending the width of one side, and two horizontalchannels 7, each equidistant from the central horizontal axis of theplate 5, extending the width of the other side. The top ofeach sideplate is bevelled on the same side as the channels 7. A clip shapedspring 8 of insulating material, is shown in the working position i.e.with the sides 9 substantially perpendicular to the base. The top ofeach side 9 of spring 8 is bent over inwards to form a lip 10. From thebase a centrallydisposed flange 11 extends vertically downwardsproviding means for securing the spring, for example to abase board. Theflange extends the width of the spring and has a rectangular channel 12formed on each side to locate arms of a retaining clip (not shown).

To assemble the connector the side plates 5 are located on the flange 2of the centre plate 1, one on each side of the web 3, with the sidescarrying the channels 7 adjacent to the ridges 4 of the web 3. Thisassembly is then slid endwise into the spring 8 while the spring sides 9are held in the working position. On releasing the spring 8 the lips 10engage thechannels 6 of the side plates 5 preventing any verticalmovement of the assembly while being inserted and when in use.

Referring now to FIG. 2, connecting wires 13 are shown located in theconnector. In this case all four wires are connected together, theconducting path being via the centre plate 1. The wires are insulatedfrom any conducting parts of the base on which the spring is mounted bythe spring 8.

Referring now to FIG. 3, each side 9 of the spring 8, shown in therelease position, makes an acute angle with the base of the spring.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the connector, adaptedto electrically connect together a maximum of six wires, is shown. Twoidentical L-shaped centre plates 14, made of conducting material areshown back-to-back having flanges 15 forming the bases of the centreplates 14. Each web 16 of the centre plates 14 has sharp verticalV-shaped ridges 17 formed on both sides and the top of each web 16 isbevelled on both sides. Two identical rectangular side plates 18, madeof either conducting or insulating material are shown, one on each sideof the, centre plates 14. These side plates 18 have a centrally-disposedhorizontal channel 19, of rectangular cross-section, extending the widthof one side, and two horizontal channels 20, equidistant from thecentral horizontal axis of each side plate, extending the width of theother side. The top of each side plate is bevelled on the same side asthe channels 20.

A clip shaped spring 21, made of an insulating material, is shown in theworking position i.e. with sides 22 substantially perpendicular to thebase. The top of each side 22 is bent over inwards to form a lip 23.From the base a centrally-disposed flange 24 extends verticallydownwards providing means for securing the spring 21, for example, to abase board. The flange extends the width of the spring and has arectangular channel formed on each side to locate arms of a retainingclip (not shown).

' To assemble the connector, the side plates 18 are located on the baseflanges 15 of the centre plates 14, with the sides carrying the channels20 adjacent to the ridges 17 of the centre plates 14. The centre plates14 are brought together back to back and the whole assembly is slid endwise into the spring 21, While the spring sides 22 are held in theWorking position. On releasing the spring 21, the lips 23 engage thechannels 19 of the side plates 18 preventing any vertical movement ofthe assembly while being inserted and when in use.

Referring now to FIG.- 5 connecting wires 25 areshown located in theconnector. In this case all six wires are connected together theconducting paths being via the centre plates 14.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the connector adapted toelectrically connect together two pairs of wires, each pair beinginsulated from the other. A T-shaped centre plate 26, made of insulatingmaterial has a horizontal flange 27 forming the base and a vertical web28. Each side of the web 28 has two horizontal channels 29 equidistantfrom the central horizontal axis of the web 28, and the top of the web28 is I'bevelled on both sides. Tworectangular side plates 30, made ofconducting material, are shown,'one on each side of the centre plate 26.Eachside plate 30 has sharp vertical V-shaped ridges 31 extending theheight of one side of the web and a horizontal centrally-disposedchannel 32, of rectangular cross-section extending the width of theother side. .The top of each side plate is bevelled on the same side asthe ridges 31.

A clip-shaped spring 33, made of insulating material,

Patented Apr. 27, 1965.

is shown in the release position. The top of each side is bent over toform a lip 34 and a centrally-disposed flange 35 extends verticallydownwards from the base of the spring 33 providing means for securingthe spring 33 for example to a base board.

To assemble the connector the side plates 30 are located on the flange27 on either side of the web 28 of the centre plate 26 with the ridges32 adjacent to the web 28. The whole assembly is then slid into thespring 33 which is held in the working position. On releasing the spring33 the lips 34 engage the channels 32 of the side plates 28 preventingany vertical .movement of the assembly while it is being inserted andwhen in use.

Pairs of wires to be connected in this connector are located one in eachside of the centre plate, each wire being located in one of the channels29. Electrical connection is made between the wires. via the side plates28, each pair being insulated from the other by the centre plate 26.

Wires to be connected by means of any of the embodiments described aboveare pressed into the connector either by hand or a suitable tool, forexample, a screwdriver. The wires are located in the channels 7, 20, and29 of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 respectively. Each of side plates 5,18 and 39 ofFIGS. 1, 4 and 6 respectively pivots about its corresponding lip of thespring so that when the wires are in position in the, channels 7,20-,and 29 equal force is exerted on each wire. In each embodiment thewires are clamped between two plates at least one of which has ridges.The force between the plates provided by the spring is such as to makethe ridges penetrate the wire surfaces thus breaking through the oxidelayers to make good electrical connection between the wires and theplate which has the ridges on it.

If wires of diiferent diameters are .to be connected, the channelslocating the wires may conveniently have a V-shaped cross section.- Theforces exerted on wires of different diameters inserted in the connectorwill all be equal because of the positions of the channels.

If necessary the channels may be omitted altogether. The wires may thenbe positioned in the connector by a special tool or by hand. The topedges of the side plates and centre plates may be left unbevelled. Inthis case the wires must be located in the connector by a special tool.

A special tool may be used to keeptheplates of the connector apart whilethe wires are being inserted to prevent the ridges of the platesdamaging the surfaces of the wires before they are in position in theconnector.

The flange of each spring, although shown as rectangular in shapeextending the width of the spring, may take any convenient shapepandneed not necessarily extend the width of the spring. i

If more than six wires are required to be connected together then two ormore connectors are used.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of specificexamples of this invention is not tobe considered as a limitation on itsscope.

7 Whatlclaimis:

l. A wire connector comprising a pair of end plates,

at least onefurther plate intermediate, said end plates,

and a clip-type spring having inwardly extending lips adapted to. engageinrecesses inthe outer faces of said end plates for maintaining pressurebetween said end plates, said clip-type spring having means forsupporting and mounting said plateswherein two adjacent plates areJOSEPH D. SEERS Primary Examiner.

adapted to have wires placed therebetween, wherein one of said twoadjacent plates is made of electrically conductive material and isprovided with ridges in the face adjacent to the other one of said twoplates, and wherein said ridges are adapted to penetrate the surfaces ofany wires placed between said two plates when said spring is disposed insaid recesses in said outer faces.

2. A wire connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single furtherplate of electrically conductive material and provided with ridges onboth faces thereof.

3. A wire connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second furtherplate of electrically conductive material both said further plateshaving ridges on both faces thereof, said second further plate beingdisposed adjacent said further plate.

4. A wire connector according to claim 1, wherein said end plates aremade of electrically insulating material. I V V 5. A wire connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said end plates are made of electricallyconductive material, and wherein the inner faces of said end plates areeach provided with grooves.

6. A wire connector as claimed in claim 5, comprising a single furtherplate of electrically insulating material. 7 7. A wire connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein said other one of said two adjacent platesis provided with a groove in the face adjacent to said one of said twoadjacent plates, wherein said groove is adapted to have a wire placedtherein and has a depth which is less than the thickness of said wire.

8. A wire connector according to claim 1, wherein said other one of saidtwo adjacent plates is provided with two substantially parallel groovesin the face adjacent to 3 said one of saidtwo adjacent plates, whereinsaid two grooves are substantially parallel to and to either side of aplane defined by said recesses, wherein each of said two grooves isadapted to have a wireplaced therein and has a depth which is lessvthanthe thickness of said wire.

9. A wire connector according to, claim 1, wherein one or more platesare provided 'witha flange along one edge of the plate or plates forlocating the correspond UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,287 2/06 Nagel 339-242X 1,808,555 6/31 Ishimaru. 2,063,110 12/36 McArdle 339--259 X 2,106,7242/38 Cope 339-247 2,149,196 2/39 Surprenant 339-259 2,547,080; 4/51Hebeler 339-273 X 2,574,796 11/51 Moore 339-258 X FOREIGN PATENTS 58,4683/25 Sweden.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiner.

1. A WIRE CONNECTOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF END PLATES, AT LEAST ONEFURTHER PLATE INTERMEDIATE SAID END PLATES, AND A CLIP-TYPE SPRINGHAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING LIPS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE IN RECESSES IN THEOUTER FACES OF SAID END PLATES FOR MAINTAINING PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID ENDPLATES, SAID CLIP-TYPE SPRING HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOUNTINGSAID PLATES WHEREIN TWO ADJACENT PLATES ARE ADAPTED TO HAVE WIRES PLACEDTHEREBETWEEN, WHEREIN ONE OF SAID TWO ADJACENT PLATES IS MADE OFELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL AND IS PROVIDED WITH RIDGES IN THE FACEADJACENT TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID TWO PLATES, AND WHEREIN SAID RIDGESARE ADAPTED TO PENETRATE THE SURFACES OF ANY WIRES PLACED BETWEEN SAIDTWO PLATES WHEN SAID SPRING IS DISPOSED IN SAID RECESSES IN SAID OUTERFACES.